Mark Your Calendar: Hot Dog Hootenanny at the Astor Center

Chien chaud! Perro caliente! Rouchang! Red Hot! Weenie! Frank!

Bacon is delicious and a hamburger is the apotheosis of meat on bread, but hasn't enough ink been spilled on back fat and Black Label?

Whatever you call it, the wiener is one of the world's best loved foods and a true example of American culinary inspiration. Learn what makes this cheap eat so seriously delicious when Serious Eats and Astor Center bring you an afternoon celebrating delicious dogs, from humble to high-end, Sunday, May 3, from 3 to 6 p.m.

We'll have hot dog vendors from around the city serving samples of their classic regional franks: condiment-heavy Chicago-style, deep-fried New Jersey Rippers, and New York City grilled, as well as an off-beat fusion dog and a high-end "fancy" dog. Guests can taste a dog from each of the participating hot dog shops and wash them down with beer or prosecco before heading into a hot dog seminar and guided tasting, should you want to take your hot dog appreciation to the next level.

Bruce Kraig, author of Hot Dog (which will be released in hardcover on May 1), and Serious Eats' own Top Dog Ed Levine will talk through the history and culture of the dog as well as where to find the best dogs in America. You are also invited to submit a "hot dog haiku." The winning entry (as judged by the world's foremost hot dog haiku experts) will be posted on Serious Eats the next day.

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